Indian visual extravaganza Baahubali in Chinese cinemas

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Danmu, or "bullet screening", allows audience comments to be projected on surfaces like bullets. Since it became popular in Japan in 2006, the idea has been spread on online video sites.

Led by Indian actors Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, Baahubali: The Beginning, is about a banished prince's fight against a feuding tyrant.

In the works for four years prior to its release, two years were spent on the script and props, including a royal palace, more than 1,000 ancient Indian costumes and thousands of weapons.

Around 600 designers from 16 international studios were hired to work on the visual effects, making it one of the most visually impressive Indian films of all time.

He Wei, the film's Chinese distributor, says the original 159-minute version has been re-edited to a condensed 129-minute version for Chinese audiences.

"Indian moviegoers usually have an intermission break. But Chinese audiences favor a faster pace, so we've optimized the content," he says.

The shortened version has been cut by French editor Vincent Tabaillon, known for Hollywood mega-budget titles such as The Incredible Hulk and Now You See Me.